At the end of 2019, my husband and I moved from Hawaii back to Seattle, so instead of taking weekend getaways from our former home on Oahu to Maui, Big Island, or Kauai, we go to Portland or Vancouver, BC. We adore Portland and visit at least once or twice per year, as it’s an easy 3-hour drive from Seattle. I have to admit, Portland is like Seattle’s cooler younger sister – the sister who’s cleaner, prettier and a bit more put together. It has a safer, quainter small town vibe, its own snow-capped volcano (Mt. Hood), and a foodie scene that will knock your North Face beanie right off your head.

By the time I’m finished writing this blog post, I wouldn’t be surprised if another distillery and another delicious restaurant opened up. When you look up places to eat in Portland on Googlemaps, nearly everything is rated 4 stars and above. What Sasha and I love most about Portland, is its distinct small neighborhood boroughs each with their own charm, and mom and pop owned restaurants rather than massive chain corporations.

Portland is situated on the Willamette River near the Columbia River Gorge just South of the border of Washington State. Portland is not only one of the coffee and foodie capitals of our country, but its close proximity to nature makes it a desirable place to visit and to live. The only downfall of Portland, much like Seattle, is that the main downtown area is quite dodgy. Homelessness is prevalent, and sadly there are many cases of drug abuse. With that being said, the neighborhoods that are outside of downtown (still in Portland proper) feel completely safe with a quaint residential atmosphere where people know their neighbors.

Your next trip to Portland should most definitely be driven by three things: eating, coffee, and waterfalls. Maybe even simultaneously. In this blog post you’ll find some ideas on how to spend a foodie’s dream in Portland, including 16 fun things to do and where to eat. I’ve also included a section at the end on things to do in Portland with kids. Let’s dive in!

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16 FUN THINGS TO DO IN PORTLAND

Sasha always tells me that while eating is great, we should add depth and dynamic to our trips instead of just indulging ourselves with food. I guess that’s fair. 😉 Perhaps a trip to a museum, a stroll through a park, or stand up paddle boarding on the Columbia River.

There are a plethora of things to do in Portland, especially during summer when it’s warm and hiking and water sports are more enticing. But here are a list of things you can do in Portland during any season!

1. Check out a Larger-Than-Life sized troll called Ole Bolle – one of Danish nature sculptor Thomas Dambo’s six trolls in the Pacific Northwest
2. Visit the Expansive Washington Park (home to Hoyt Arboretum, International Test Garden, and Portland Japanese Gardens)
3. Embark on a Wall Art Treasure Hunt
4. Visit The Largest Bookstore in the World at Powell’s City of Books
5. Stroll the Alberta Arts District
6. Photograph Multnomah Falls & Hike Around the Area
7. Experience Local Art and Food at the Portland Saturday Market (closed January & February)
8. Immerse Yourself with the Locals at Portland’s Food Truck Scene
9. Take a Tour of Pittock Mansion
10. Visit One of Portland’s Many Museums
11. Enjoy Views of Mt. Hood from Council Crest Park
12. Relax in Soaking Pools and a Cedar Wood Sauna
13. Go Boutique Shopping in the Pearl District
14. Get Fancy at Multnomah Whiskey Library
15. Do a Flight Tasting at One of Portland’s Many Distilleries
16. Go to a Clothing-Optional Beach

Ole Bolle, the Troll

This larger than life sculpture is one of Thomas Dambo’s six trolls in the Pacific Northwest that was constructed in 2023 (the others can be found in Ballard, Issaquah, West Seattle, Vashon Island, and Bainbridge Island – all in Washington State.) All materials are made from nature and recycled wooden pallets from boats that are no longer in use. To learn more about the Danish nature artist, you can check out his troll map to find his incredible troll creations all around the world! This one is located at the Nordic Northwest Heritage Center.

Before or after visiting the troll (which is free and open to the public), if you’re feeling hungry, the only option for food is inside the Nordic Northwest Center, called Broder Soder serving Nordic food and specialty coffee.

Enjoy Nature Year Round at Washington Park

Here you will find Hoyt Arboretum, Portland Japanese Gardens, and the International Test Rose Garden all in one expansive area, covering 410 acres. Roses bloom from April – October with the peak bloom in June. The Rose Garden and Hoyt Arboretum are free, but there is an entry fee for the Japanese Gardens. If you have children, there’s a great playground located across from the Japanese Gardens inside the park.

If you look closely in the above photo on the right, you can faintly see the outline of Mt. Hood.

Embark on a Wall Art Treasure Hunt

You can locate all the murals by using the Portland Street Art Map.

Visit the Largest Bookstore in the World at Powell’s City of Books

Portland’s famous bookstore occupies one whole city block and houses nearly one million books, both new and used. It’s the largest bookstore in the world (based on shelf space), contending with New York City’s Barnes and Noble College Booksellers on 5th Ave.

Stroll the Alberta Arts District

This is a quaint neighborhood filled with boutique shops, specialty coffee and great eateries. While you’re here, enjoy a burrito (vegan options available) at El Nutri-Taco, grab coffee at Just Bob’s, and get your vegan fix at Back to Eden.

Visit Multnomah Falls

Below left: August
Below right: January

This fairytale-like waterfall is stunning in any season, and located just a 30-minute drive from downtown. We just so happened to visit during the wettest January on record in the Pacific Northwest in a long time, so the waterfall was roaring! It looks so different depending on which season you visit and how much rain we’ve received that year. You can continue along Interstate 84 and during wet season (pretty much the whole year in Oregon), the entire highway will be a giant waterfall show that I would say rivals Kauai!

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You can opt to do a short hike up to the top of the falls and look right over it (not for the faint of heart).

Experience Local Art and Food at the Portland Saturday Market

The Portland Saturday Market is nationally recognized as the largest continually operating open-air arts and crafts market in the country! The market is closed in the months of January & February. This is my favorite market in the U.S. because of the focus on local vendors. Some of my favorite t-shirts come from this market with clever sayings such as “tree hugger” and “The Happy Face” with the North Face logo.

Immerse Yourself with the Locals at Portland’s Food Truck Scene

Portland is kind of famous for its ubiquitous food truck scene. With hundreds of independent food carts all around the city, you won’t be deprived of your ethnic food fix! From Amish to Vietnamese, Burmese, Peruvian and everything in between, here is the Official Guide to Portland’s list of food carts.

Take a Tour of Pittock Mansion

Built in 1914, you can tour this French Renaissance-style château with 23 art and antique-filled rooms filled with history on moguls who were instrumental in Portland’s early development, or simply drive up for the views. You can learn more about the history here.

Visit One of Portland’s Many Museums

Portland has some strange museums, including The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and the Puppet Museum – “keeping Portland weird”.

Enjoy Views of Mt. Hood from Council Crest Park

Amenities include paved and unpaved paths, an off-leash dog area, picnic tables, public art and a view point of the city.

Relax in Soaking Pools & A Cedar Wood Sauna at Common Ground Wellness Cooperative

Mixed gender, clothing optional. If public nudity is not your thing, your alternative is Knot Springs where swim suits are required. Perfect for a rainy day activity in Portland.

Go Boutique Shopping in the Pearl District 

Whether you’re looking for strange costumes or haute couture, you can find it all in the Pearl District.

Get Fancy at Multnomah Whiskey Library

This membership-only whisky bar is so much more than just a bar. Learn about their mission. You can buy a “hall pass”, which buys you a single visit.

Do a Flight Tasting at Eastside Distilling

Distilleries have been popping up all around Portland like tulips in April. The last tasting is usually held at 7PM as they close at 8PM. There are a few options of spirit flights at varying costs, but the starter is only $5, which gets you the top 5 best sellers + 1 more tasting of your choice. A “spirit guide” will enthusiastically tell you about the history and origin of each sip.

Go To a Clothing-Optional Beach

Collins Beach on Sauvie Island is a bit of a hidden gem just outside of Portland with a clothing-optional section.

THINGS TO DO IN PORTLAND WITH KIDS

Portland loves kids just as much as they love dogs! PDX is very family friendly with a ton of things to do rain or shine with babies, toddlers and teenagers. If you’re traveling with little ones, here are some fun ideas of things to do in Portland with kids!

There are so many parks and playgrounds to choose from, you’ll be spoiled for choice! Portland Parks and Recreation does such an outstanding job of creating play spaces in the most beautiful spots in nature!

Westmoreland Park Nature Play Area is made of all natural wood and rocks (except for the slide), complete with a sand pit.

• Alberta Park Playground
• Sellwood Park Playground
• Peninsula Park Playground
• Washington Park Playground
• Play Date PDX – three floors of indoor soft play space (great for a rainy day!)
• Tom McCall Waterfront Park – this is where the Portland Saturday Market is located, and is especially beautiful in the Spring for cherry blossom season as cherry trees line the waterfront with soft pink hues
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
• Oregon Zoo
• World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
• Portland Aerial Tram

WHERE TO EAT IN PORTLAND

I can’t even begin to write a blog post including all the amazing eats in Portland, but here are some of our classic favorites!

Screen Door – creole cajun (great for brunch). Two locations – one on the Eastside and one in the Pearl District.

Kopi – coffee house adjacent to Screen Door – order their spicy chai latte

Never Coffee – specialty coffee with unique seasonal flavors.

Por Qué No? Taqueria – Order the boozy horchata.

Prasad – Vegan, attached to a yoga studio. Their smoothies are healthy and fresh.

Case Study Coffee – their spicy chai is made in house and is memorably outstanding.

Tin Shed Garden Cafe – great for breakfast, located right next to Case Study Coffee. This place is good for kids, as there’s a large outdoor seating area in their courtyard.

Proud Mary Cafe – awesome breakfast burritos and home made pastries. Their strawberry muffin was the most moist muffin I’ve ever tasted!

Blossoming Lotus (Vegan)

Pambiche – Cuban / South American. Their meat dishes are juicy and tender.

Kachka – Eastern European

Sweet Treats

Blue Star Donuts – I don’t see the hype in the famed Voodoo Donuts. They use poor ingredients such as cereal with high fructose corn syrup and Oreos. I think this is one of those places like Leonard’s Malasadas on Oahu that is simply famous because it’s been around for so long. Blue Star Donuts uses fresh, natural ingredients. And the best part? There’s no queue! We ordered the apple cider fritter and blueberry bourbon basil. There are locations all around the city.

Salt & Straw – innovative ice cream

Though it’s been around a while and has since opened locations in Seattle, I still love the revolutionary flavors (bleu cheese & fig anybody?)

Ranger Chocolate Company

Pix Pattisserie – French bakery with home made chocolates, cakes and other sweets with a sexy interior and hip ambiance.

Other eateries on our list for our next weekend trip (which will probably be every month if we can help it!)

– Pok Pok Thai
– SOMA Kombucha Taproom (free sample tastings)
– Smith Teamaker (for the tea flight or fancy lattes)
– Freeland Spirits – Female Owned
– Swiss Hibiscus

This is by no means anywhere close to an exhaustive list of where to eat and what to do in Portland, but it certainly gives us a reason to keeping coming back to discover more!

What are some of your favorites in Portland? Tell me in the comments below!

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